# CVE-2026-20803: Microsoft SQL Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

> An authorized attacker can elevate privileges over the network due to missing authentication for a critical function in Microsoft SQL Server.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Jan 2026
- **Updated:** 30 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9429-3r47-rwh9

## What is CVE-2026-20803?

CVE-2026-20803 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Microsoft Sql Server 2022, published on 13 Jan 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Missing authentication for critical function in SQL Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20803?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Microsoft Sql Server 2022, Microsoft Sql Server 2025.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-20803?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-20803 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-20803 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20803 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Sql Server 2022

- [CVE-2026-67643](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-67643/): Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-78456](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-78456/): SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-47954](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-47954/): Microsoft SQL Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-66816](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-66816/): Microsoft SQL Server Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2026-67389](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-67389/): Microsoft SQL Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-20803 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-20803 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Microsoft Sql Server 2022, published on 13 Jan 2026. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20803 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Sql Server 2022. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20803/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20803/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20803
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20803
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20803

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20803/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.